Magnetic printout equipment

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for conveying magnetizable toner particles from a toner supply region to a toning region for toning magnetic images includes a plurality of detached magnetic members for advancing toner particles from the toner supply region to the toning region. These detached magnetic members are successively engaged, advanced and thereupon released by a screw structure, and are thereafter returned for reengagement by a tube. Toner guide means extend from the toner supply region to the toning region for shielding the magnetic members against contact by the toner particles and for guiding the advancing toner particles.

United States Patent [72] Inventor FelixSamaniego La Puente, Calif. [21] AppLNo. 873,285 [22] Filed Nov.3, 1969 [45] Patented Jan.l1, 1972 [73] Assignee Bell8zHowell Company Chicago, Ill.

[54] MAGNETIC PRINTOUT EQUIPMENT 7 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S.Cl 118/637 [51] Int.Cl B05b5/02, 603g 13/00 [50] Field ofSearch 118/637, 636; 355/3; 117/175; 95/1 A; 96/].1 A, 1 C, 150, 1.4

[5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,003,462 10/1961 Streich,Sr. 118/637 3,058,405 10/1962 Limberger 1l8/637X 46 58 5- 12a. l 1 37 /O .9- ifl 59 I g as /7 4:7 I I I 46 26/ w M 26 M Primary Examiner-James Kee Chi Atlorney Luc P. Benoit ABSTRACT: An apparatus for conveying magnetizable toner particles from a toner supply region to atoning region for toning magnetic images includes a plurality of detached magnetic members for advancing toner particles from the toner supply region to the toning region. These detached magnetic members are successively engaged, advanced and thereupon released by a screw structure, and are thereafter returned for reengagement by a tube. Toner guide means extend from the toner supply region to the toning region for shielding the magnetic members against contact by the toner particles and for guiding the advancing toner particles.

PRINTING MAGNETIC PRINTOUT EQUIPMENT RELATED APPLICATIONS The following copending patent applications contain subject matter which is related to subject matter of the present application:

US. Pat. application Ser. No. 850,958, Magnetic Printout Equipment, filed Aug. 18, I969, by George G. Preckshot; and

US. Pat. application Ser. No. 850,959, Magnetic Toner, filed Aug. 18, I969, by Thomas H. Garland, Frederick J. Jeffers, and John H. Rolker.

Both of these patent applications are assigned to the assignee of the subject application, and the disclosures of both of these applications are herewith incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The invention relates to magnetic printout equipment and, more particularly, to equipment for toning magnetic images.

2. Prior Art A multitude of efforts to provide imaging, copying and printing apparatus which operate through the intermediary of a magnetic image or record has created a strong need for magnetic printout equipment in which magnetizable toner particles are advanced from a toner supply to a surface on which the magnetic image or record appears and needs to be toned for a printout thereof.

The above-mentioned copending patent applications provide advanced equipment for satisfying this need. The subject invention provides an advantageous alternative of such printout equipment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The subject invention provides apparatus for conveying magnetizable toner particles from a toner supply region toward a toning region for toning magnetic images, comprising a plurality of detached magnetic members for advancing toner particles from said toner supply region toward said toning region, means for advancing said magnetic members from said toner supply region toward said toning region, said advancing means including means for successively engaging said detached magnetic members at said toner supply region; and for releasing said engaged magnetic members in the vicinity of said toning region, means for successively returning said released magnetic members to said toner supply region for reengagement by said engaging means, and toner guide means extending from said tone supply region to said toning region for shielding said magnetic members and said engaging and advancing means against contact by said toner particles and for guiding said advancing toner particles toward said toning region.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, the returning means in the apparatus just recited include a tube structure for guiding the released magnetic members toward the toner supply region for reengagement by the engaging means.

In accordance with a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the engaging and advancing means include a rotatable member defining a thread for successively engaging, advancing and thereupon releasing the magnetic members.

Other inventive features will be pointed out or become apparent as this description proceeds.

The expression magnetizable as herein employed refers not only to materials which will retain an imposed magnetization, but also to materials which are subject to magnetic attraction but will not retain a magnetization after removal of the external magnetic field.

SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be more readily apparent from the following detailed descriptionof a preferred embodiment thereof, illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a section through a magnetic toning apparatus according to the invention and also illustrates a magnetic image drum;

FIG. 2 is a view along lines II-II of FIG. I; and

FIG. 3 illustrates a modification of the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The toning apparatus 10 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 has the purpose of toning, in a toning region 12, magnetic records or images 13, so as to provide corresponding toner images 14 that can be printed out onto such media as paper sheets to produce duplicates of original letters or other documents. In the illustrated embodiment the magnetic images 13 are formed on an endless magnetic recording medium 16 at a recording station 17. The recording medium 16 is disposed on a rotatable drum 19 which is rotated in the direction of arrow 20 by a drive 21.

The image drum 19 with recording medium 16, and the recording station 17 are only indicated schematically, since they may be composed of conventional means, such as those described in Schaffert, ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY (Focal Press 1965), pp. 123-25. Alternatively, thermomagnetic imaging techniques and low-Curie point media such as those of the type disclosed in US. Pat. No. 2,793,135, Methods and Apparatus for Preparing a Latent Magnetic Image, by Sims et al., issued May 21, I957 and British Pat. Specification 1,139,232, ThermomagneticRecording, by E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Co., published Jan. 8, 1969, may be employed for providing the magnetic images 13.

Upon rotation of the drum 19 the images 13 are moved into the toning region 12 for a toning thereof. For this purpose, the apparatus 10 includes a container 23 located in a toner supply region 24 and containing a supply 25 of magnetizable toner particles 26.

A plurality of detached permanent-magnet members 28 serve to advance toner particles 26 from the toner supply region 24 toward the toning region 12. To this end, a screw structure 30, defining a thread 31, is rotated in the direction of arrow 32 and about a longitudinal axis 33, by a drive 35.

The magnet members 28 are constrained against lateral movement by a vertical channel 37 which is shown in dotted line in FIGS. 2, and one sidewall 38 of which is apparent in FIG. 1. The magnet members 28 project from the channel 37 into the thread 31 and are therefore advanced in the direction of arrow 39 upon rotation of the screw structure 30 in the direction of 32.

A toner guide structure 42 serves to shield the magnetic members 28 and the screw structure 30 against contact by toner particles 26. This is an important feature since toner particles would be very difficult to remove from the magnet members 28 if they were permitted to contact such members. In the illustrated embodiment, the toner guide structure 42 includes a thin sheet 43 of a nonmagnetic material disposed in the vicinity of the screw structure 30 and magnet members 28.

The latter elements are further protected from contamination by a housing 45 enveloping the screw structure 30 in conjunction with the sheet 43.

Piles 46 of toner particles 26 drawn from the toner supply 25 are attracted by the magnet members 28 against the toner guide structure 42 and are caused to travel along the guide structure 42 by moving magnet members 28.

At the upper end 47 of the screw structure 30 successive magnet members 28 are pushed by action of the thread 31 from the vertical channel 37 into an opening 48 of a tube 49. The repelling force exerted by a succeeding magnet member 28 facilitates the insertion of each magnet member 28 into the tube opening 48.

The magnet members 28 released by the screw structure 30 travel inside the tube 49 by force of gravity. The tube 49 leads to the lower end 52 of the screw structure 30 and has an opening 53 connected to the channel 37 for a return of the magnet members 28 to the screw structure 30. The resulting reengagement of the magnet members 28 by the thread 311 is facilitated by the repelling force exerted on each magnet member 28 by its succeeding magnet member 23. In this manner the magnet members 28 are caused to travel in an endless path.

Successive toner piles 46 are deposited on the distributor plate 55 as the members 28 continue their travel in the tube 39. In the illustrated embodiment, the toner particles 26 in the piles 46 are spread across the plate 55 by virtue of the fact that the tube 49 extends at an angle to the upper edge 56 of the plate 55. If necessary, a beater 58 or other vibrating structure acting on the plate 55 may be employed to promote a distribution of the toner particles 26 prior to their application to the drum layer i6.

The toner particles 26 travel along the inclined distribution plate 55 and provide toned images M upon encountering magnetic images I3 on the drum layer 16. Excessive toner particles 26' which are not retained on the drum layer 16 in the toning process are caught by an inclined plate 60 and are returned to the toner supply 25 with the aid of magnet members 28 traveling in the lower portion of the tube 49. If desired the plate may be vibrated by an agitator of the type of beater S8 to promote the travel of the toner particles 26' along the inclined plate 60.

The toner images 114 are advanced to a printing station 62 for a printout thereof onto a suitable media, such as paper sheets (see, for instance, Schafi'ert, op. cit. supra, pp. l23-25). The toner particles 26 may have fusible shells for a fusion thereof to the printout medium under the influence of heat.

Particles of iron, nickel or cobalt, or ferromagnetic alloys thereof, have been found suitable as toner particles 26. Advantageous toner premagnetization effects of the type disclosed in the above-mentioned Garland et al. application are possible with the magnetic members 28.

If desired each magnetic image may be printed out repeatedly. To this effect, the rotation of the image drum I9 and the toning in the region I2 are continued while the operation of the recording station I7 is suspended. The latter includes erasing means (not shown) for clearing the drum of magnetic images of which no further printout is desired.

Referring again to the magnetic members 28, it should be understood that they may be made spherical for increased ease of handling in the illustrated apparatus. Cylindrical magnet members 28 are, however, preferred since such a configuration in conjunction with a rectangular cross section of the tube 49 assures that like magnetic poles as among adjacent magnet members 28 will remain juxtaposed in the tube 49 so that no sticking of magnet members in the tube will occur.

The alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 3 uses an endless conveyor belt 70 instead of the screw structure 30 as the means for successively engaging the detached magnetic members 28 at the toner supply region 24- and for advancing the engaged members 28 toward the toning region 12.

The belt 70, which may be formed of an elastomeric web, extends over pulleys 72 and 73. The pulley 73 is rotated by a drive 75 in the direction of arrow 76. If desired, the belt 70 may have fingers 78 fastened thereon for engaging and supporting magnet members 28. The fingers 78 may, however, be omitted and the belt 70 may be used to roll the members 28 along a plate 80 which extends between the exit opening 53 of the tube 49 at the toner region 24 and the inlet opening 48 of the tube 49 in the vicinity of the toning region 12.

The plate tit) preferably has a frictional surface or lining 82, which may comprise an elastomer sheet, so that the magnet members 26 are rolled without undue slipping along the plate in a rotational movement.

A toner guide structure 42 including a sheet 43 of nonmagnetic material again prevents contamination of the magnet members 26 and belt 79 by magnetic toner particles.

The magnetic repulsion between ad acent magnet members 26 serves to insert successive members 28 between the belt 70 and plate 80, and to insert successive members 28 into the tube inlet opening 48.

The remaining parts of the apparatus of FIG. 3 are the same as those of the equipment of FIGS. 1 and 2, and are thus not again illustrated in FIG. 3.

It will not be recognized that the invention provides several substantial features which are broadly applicable to magnetic toning apparatus and techniques.

lclaim:

1. In apparatus for conveying magnetizable toner particles from a toner supply region toward a toning region for toning magnetic images, the improvement comprising in combination:

a plurality of detached magnetic members for advancing toner particles from said toner supply region toward said toning region;

means for advancing said magnetic members from said toner supply region toward said toning region, said advancing means including means for successively engaging said detached magnetic members at said toner supply region and for releasing said engaged magnetic members in the vicinity of said toning region;

means for successively returning said released magnetic members to said toner supply region for reengagement by said engaging means; and

toner guide means extending from said toner supply region to said toning region for shielding said magnetic members and said engaging and advancing means against contact by said toner particles and for guiding said advancing toner particles toward said toning region.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said returning means include a tube structure for guiding said released magnetic members toward said toner supply region for reengagement by said engaging means.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said engaging and advancing means include a rotatable member defining a thread for successively engaging, advancing and thereupon releasing said magnetic members.

41. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein:

said returning means include a tube structure extending from one end to the other end of said rotatable member for guiding said released magnetic members into reengagement with said thread.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said engaging and advancing means include an endless conveyor belt structure for engaging, advancing and thereupon releasing successive ones of said magnetic members.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein:

said conveyor belt structure includes members for engaging and carrying said magnetic members.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, including means defining a frictional surface near said conveyor belt structure for receiving said magnetic members in rolling engagement. 

1. In apparatus for conveying magnetizable toner particles from a toner supply region toward a toning region for toning magnetic images, the improvement comprising in combination: a plurality of detached magnetic members for advancing toner particles from said toner supply region toward said toning region; means for advancing said magnetic members from said toner supply region toward said toning region, said advancing means including means for successively engaging said detached magnetic members at said toner supply region and for releasing said engaged magnetic members in the vicinity of said toning region; means for successively returning said released magnetic members to said toner supply region for reengagement by said engaging means; and toner guide means extending from said toner supply region to said toning region for shielding said magnetic members and said engaging and advancing means against contact by said toner particles and for guiding said advancing toner particles toward said toning region.
 2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said returning means include a tube structure for guiding said released magnetic members toward said toner supply region for reengagement by said engaging means.
 3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said engaging and advancing means include a rotatable member defining a thread for successively engaging, advancing and thereupon releasing said magnetic members.
 4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein: said returning means include a tube structure extending from one end to the other end of said rotatable member for guiding said released magnetic members into reengagement with said thread.
 5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said engaging and advancing means include an endless conveyor belt structure for engaging, advancing and thereupon releasing successive ones of said magnetic members.
 6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein: said conveyor belt structure includes members for engaging and carrying said magnetic members.
 7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, including means defining a frictional surface near said conveyor belt structure for receiving said magnetic members in rolling engagement. 